-기로 하다 in Korean: “decide to, agree to”
-기로 하다
-giro hada
decide to, agree to
Beginner · Saying what you think and feel
-기로 하다 (-giro hada) means "decide to" or "agree to" do something. It is usually in the past, 기로 했어요 ("I decided to"), because a decision is something you already made. It also describes plans you agreed on with someone else.
How to form it
| When | Add | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Any verb stem | + 기로 하다 | 가다 → 가기로 했어요, 먹다 → 먹기로 했어요 |
| 하다 verb | + 기로 하다 | 공부하다 → 공부하기로 했어요 |
| Decide not to | 안 + verb + 기로 하다, or + 지 않기로 하다 | 마시다 → 안 마시기로 했어요, 마시지 않기로 했어요 |
| Other decision verbs | + 기로 결정하다 / 약속하다 | 만나다 → 만나기로 약속했어요 |
How to use it
Use it for decisions and resolutions: starting a diet, quitting a job, going on a trip. 했어요 means the decision is already made.
It also covers plans agreed between people. 친구랑 만나기로 했어요 means "my friend and I made plans to meet".
In the present, 기로 해요 often means "let's agree to": 우리 매일 연락하기로 해요 ("let's agree to keep in touch every day"). Use 했어요 politely and 했어 with friends.
Examples
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Talking about goals
Explaining weekend plans
Turning down a drink
Sharing big news
Don’t mix it up with
-(으)려고 하다: -(으)려고 하다 is an intention or plan ("I'm planning to"), which may still change. -기로 하다 means you have actually made the decision or agreed on it.
-게 되다: -기로 하다 is your own choice. -게 되다 means it happened because of circumstances ("it turned out that I'm going").
Common mistakes
Using 기로 해요 to mean "I decided". In the present it usually means "let's agree to". To report a decision, say 기로 했어요.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 기로 했어요 and 려고 해요?
기로 했어요 means the decision is made ("I decided to"). 려고 해요 means you intend or plan to ("I'm going to try to"), which is less firm.
Can 기로 하다 mean a promise?
Yes. When two people decide together, it means they agreed or promised: 같이 가기로 했잖아 ("we agreed to go together, remember?").